Episode 1201
Episode 1201
Hamster was momentarily shocked, but now wasn't the time to ask about that.
He could ask about it later, after that damn Evil God's voice had disappeared.
-...This is tough. As I just said, that wasn't his true form—just his voice.
If he had descended by possessing those worshippers, we could have dealt some damage.
Of course, even if he's fallen, an Evil God of that caliber would make us worry about our own lives before we could even think about damaging him...
'Wait. If I die, wouldn't I just escape?'
Hamster wondered why he'd even been worried about that.
If this cursed body of mine collapses, my soul can just flee to one of the spare bodies I prepared in advance!
'Am I actually going insane?!'
'You mean it was just his voice?'
At Lee Han's words, Hamster immediately snapped back to attention.
-R-Right. Just like attacking a paper bird wouldn't harm the mage who summoned it.
Those corpses of the worshippers were essentially paper birds.
A means for the Evil God to deliver his words.
No matter how much we attack those corpses, we can't strike the Evil God beyond them. To do that, we'd have to find the Evil God's stronghold.
-Don't feel humiliated. The fact that he's acting so arrogantly is actually good luck for us.
Hamster warned Lee Han, worried he might lose control and do something reckless.
If they provoked the Evil God carelessly and he actually descended here, it would be truly dangerous. This rookie mage's combat strength was already scattered, wasn't it?
'Right. It's not like he'd fall for a clumsy lie anyway, so I'm just helping out this once.'
Thinking that, Hamster quickly pulled himself together.
'Good luck? What kind of...'
-Divine beings are powerful because of their inherent flawlessness. No ego, no true existence. They exist solely as laws.
That's why Evil God Worshippers could persist on the continent for so long.
Even if their high priest was executed and their order collapsed, as long as believers existed, this law would revive.
-But as you saw from his taunting just now, he's no longer just a law. He has an ego and true existence now. That means we can destroy him permanently.
"...!"
Even powerful multi-dimensional beings could meet their end if their true forms were attacked.
If you raided the Yacha King's palace in the Nine Mountains and Eight Seas, he'd definitely...
-Yacha King?
'Hmm. I'm not sure why I used the Yacha King as an example either.'
Lee Han changed his example. For some reason, when thinking of powerful dimensional beings, the Yacha King had come to mind first.
If we raided Sanguiros's stronghold, we could destroy him too!
'That's true... but isn't this divine being acting too carelessly? Wouldn't it be better for him to hide his identity rather than taunt me like this?'
-Powerful beings usually have some kind of madness in them. Look at your Grand Mages. Wouldn't it be strange if those monsters obsessed over their domains instead of ascending to other dimensions long ago?
'That's just being politely insane.'
Without realizing it, Lee Han found himself defending the Skeleton Principal.
Even if an Einrogard student insulted the Skeleton Principal, he could understand that—but he couldn't accept a wicked Magic Criminal doing the same.
-His power is immense, but his thinking is simple and easy to understand. He's gained self-awareness and tremendous power, but he's no longer in that comfortable, perfect state like before. He must be restless, anxious, boiling with all sorts of desires he doesn't even recognize. Otherwise, he wouldn't have any reason to taunt like that.
Despite having lost his magic, Hamster had discerned the psychology behind the Evil God's origins. Truly befitting a seasoned Magic Criminal.
It was clear that the Evil God, despite his immense power, was deeply dissatisfied that his once-worshipped order had collapsed across the continent.
"Otherwise, there'd be no reason for such provocation..."
"...Kgh! Truly, Sanguiros! You're so powerful there's nothing I can do! To think you don't even need faith anymore!"
-What kind of nonsense is this???
The hamster was utterly bewildered.
So absurd that even his normally refined speech patterns flew out the window.
'You said he's unstable because he's newly born, didn't you?'
-I never said "newly born"...
Even a newborn wouldn't fall for such obvious flattery!
That's right! You've finally realized you must submit!
-......
The hamster was speechless.
He's actually buying this crap???
-Having intelligence only to lose it. What an idiot, making a complete fool of an Evil God!
'Please acknowledge my excellent flattery skills.'
"Might the great Sanguiros perhaps have no need for new devotees?"
If mortals wish to serve, I've no reason to refuse. Hahaha... If my mood improves, I might even bestow some Authority.
"Not just ordinary worship—I wish to personally seek you out and serve you. Where in the dimensions might you reside?"
-......
The hamster wondered if Lee Han's intelligence had dropped along with the Evil God's.
That blatantly obvious?
Excellent!
The blood congealing over the worshippers' corpses formed a crimson key.
An artifact of the dimensions radiating ominous energy.
Follow this key. Pass the trial, and I shall grant you the honor of an audience. Hahaha...
"Hahaha!"
Lee Han inwardly resolved:
The moment preparations are complete, I'll mobilize every dimensional connection I have to take down this Evil God!
He was even prepared to ask the Yaksha King for help.
Well thought. That rebel, that beast, even that mage above—all fear me in truth. I am a god, an existence surpassing gods! Hahahaha...
Whether Sanguiros had truly said his piece, the red sigil lost power and vanished.
Enster stood dumbfounded before asking:
"What in the world just happened? More importantly, 'subjugating Sanguiros'?"
"I did say I enjoy hunting Evil God Worshippers."
"Y-you did. But... this seemed beyond ordinary conflict... Wait. There's a mage above?!"
Enster belatedly processed Sanguiros's words and gasped.
Had enemies already gathered?!
"Ah! The assassins are still—!"
"Where... Gah!"
Lee Han unleashed a full-power Water Prison Bomb. Since his opponents surely had defensive spells anyway, there was no need to hold back.
Then he signaled above.
-Professor? You can come down now.
The two professors and death knights waiting above had simple roles in this plan:
Charge down the moment Lee Han gave the signal.
As long as escape routes were blocked, it didn't matter if the underground workshop had golems or even the Skeleton Principal standing guard.
"Running late."
Professor Voladi checked the time.
The initial estimated timeframe had passed without signal.
Because Enster had dragged things out inspecting the furnace, though those outside couldn't know that.
Professor Kirmin and the knights immediately jeered:
"Planning to ignore the scheme and act recklessly again, are we?!"
-Overprotective fool! Should've kept promises like that back in your school days!
"I never said we'd charge in."
Professor Voladi remained unshaken despite jeers that would've made an ordinary Einrogard mage draw their staff in fury.
Most importantly, a separate signal was arranged for emergencies—and no such signal had come.
Pouring out their accumulated grievances, Professor Kirmin and the knights whispered among themselves:
"What do you think?"
-The real problem is him escaping. If the Successor deploys all his means, no amount of golems in that workshop could stop him.
"Right. That's exactly what will happen."
A short while later.
A faint mana fluctuation was detected.
It was a phenomenon caused by Lee Han excessively pumping mana into the underground depths where the workshop's Mana Core was located.
"That mana just now—"
"So you're saying we should go down now?!"
'If that's the case, why didn't we just mobilize the Evil God Worshippers like the heir suggested from the start?!'
This time, Professor Voladi didn't even bother responding.
The jeers simply weren't worth acknowledging.
Another brief moment passed.
A group of laborers arrived at the workshop. Amrek, who had been slightly cowed by the mages' sharp mockery, quickly explained.
"These are laborers who work in nearby workshops. Some of them have even worked in Enster's workshop before."
"That's odd."
It was the dead of night—hardly a time when laborers would suddenly appear.
Professor Kirmin and the knights responded indifferently.
"Never seen laborers moving around before dawn?"
'Probably just moving supplies in advance.'
No hostile intent or unusual energy could be sensed from the laborers. Overreacting and confronting them might only arouse Enster's suspicion.
Yet Professor Voladi remained uneasy, lost in thought.
Logic aside, some instinctive intuition was nagging at him.
BOOOOM—
Then, an explosion echoed from inside. To anyone, it was unmistakably the sound of multiple golems detonating in an all-out battle.
"!!!"
Professor Kirmin and the knights turned pale.
Not because of the explosion itself—given Wardanaz's skill, he could handle a few exploding golems just fine.
The problem was the laborers they had dismissed.
If chaos erupted the moment they descended, didn't that mean those laborers weren't who they seemed to be?!
"What the—?! There wasn't even a trace of magic on them!!"
'What kind of bastards are they?!'
In a frenzy, they immediately sprang into action.
No matter how they thought about it, it made no sense. They hadn't sensed even a hint of power from those laborers.
Professor Voladi, leading the charge, shot them a brief glance.
Then, without a word, he turned his gaze forward and entered the workshop first.
"......"
'......'
Professor Kirmin and the Death Knights were left speechless, even if they had ten mouths each.
They should've just gone down earlier...!
"Ah. You're here."
"!"
Fortunately, the situation below was stable. Lee Han looked surprised as he saw the group descend immediately after his signal.
"You came faster than I expected. The workshop passages are quite complex, and there should still be a few defensive spells left upstairs..."
'Hah, haha. That level of interference was nothing.'
The Death Knights desperately tried to steer the conversation away, hiding the fact that they had already been running before receiving the signal.
'This magic criminal bastard! This vile, despicable wretch! In the name of honor, we won't forgive you!'
'Let's drag him away and lock him up forever! Toss him into Einrogard's deepest dungeons where no one will ever find him!'
"??"
Lee Han found the knights acting slightly different than usual and tilted his head in confusion.
They weren't normally like this, were they?
"More importantly, Professor. There's a problem."
"R-right, nothing too serious, I hope? You're not hurt, are you?"
Professor Kirmin checked on his student while nervously glancing at his friend. He couldn't help but feel the piercing gaze from behind him.
"Ah, I'm not the one who's hurt."
"What a relief! A true relief!"
"...???"
Lee Han was even more bewildered.
Why were they acting like this?
"Is this because of Enster? He was a strong mage, but I tricked him easily, so it wasn't dangerous."
"It's a long story. Anyway, since you're not hurt, it's not a big problem."
"Actually, I had a direct conversation with Sanguiros—"
THUD!
Professor Kirmin was sent flying sideways, crashing into the corridor wall—thanks to his friend shoving him.
Professor Voladi, who had rushed over, asked with undisguised shock.
"How did you talk to him?"
"......"
Wait, did these two fight while I wasn't around?